Method of treating ores.



WILBr'n ALSON HENDRYX, 01 DEXYER. COLORADO.

METHOD OF TREATING JRES.

I No. 889,129.

Application filed November 27,1906. Serial No. 345,295.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I \VILBUR Ansox HEN.

DRYX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hotel Met-ropole, inthe city of Denver, in the county-of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Ores,ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention is amethod of treating ores,

and more particularly oxidized ores of copper, zinc and the like, bywhich term it is intended to include oxid and carbonate ores,

"and other ores which by roasting or other treatment have beenrenderedlsoluble in acids and in saline solutions.

The object of the invention is to provide a method whereby substantiallycomplete extraction of metal from such ores may be securedwliileeffecting a substantial economy in the quantity of acid required,

I In treating an oxidized copper ore I prefer to proceed as follows: Theore in a=su1table state of subdivision is charged into a tank providedwith a mechanical stirring device and is thoroughly agitated therein inpresence of a solution of'sodium chlorid,'calcium chlorid or othersaline solution capable of efgrees fecting solution of the metal, such"saline solution being referably 'of comparatiyely high concentrationand preferably heated to a tem erature which may vary from 120deahrenheit to'the boilingpoint of the solution. .By this treatment asubstantial ropo'rtion of the metal contained in the ore,

1n the case of oxidized copper ores usually about 50. percent, isbrought 'into solution, The tank may be of any suitable character 1 land the construction of the same forms no part of my present invention;I prefer however to employ the apparatus of. my prior patent 7 85,214,granted March 21, 1905, .the

" parts thereof being constructed of material unaffected by the liquidsemployed, and the electrodes being omitted. I then add to the 50 percentof the metal origina ly present in theore. The pulp is then subjected toheat and agitation for a further period of time and until racticallycomplete solution is effected. It will be obvious'that the salinesolution or Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Ma ae, r908.

any portion thereof may be separated from the residual ore before theaddition-of the acid, butl prefer to proceed as described in the case ofmost ores, and particularly in the case of such ores as are morecompletely and rapidly attacked by the products of double decompositionof the salt and sulfuric acid thanby sulfuric acid alone. Themetal-bearing solution is separated in any desired manner, preferably bydischarging the pulp upon a sand filter, and the 'clear solution istreated to separate the copper, preferably by precipitatlng the copperby scrap iron or steel in the rotary precip tating apparatus describedin my copending application Serial No. 317,600, filed May 18, 1906, theprecipitate being collected infilters or otherwise.

The apparatus above described has great capacity and the solution of themetals is quickly and economically accomplished; l have foundin practicethat a solution tank 17 feet in diameter is capableoftreatingapproximately 40 tons of ore at a charge and that ten .suchcharges may be treated in a day, the total capacity "of each tank beingtherefore about 400 tons of ore in twentyfour hours.

The essential economy of the method has in the use of a relatively cheapsaline solvent as sodium chlorid -or calcium chlorid to extract from theore such roportion of the metal as can be rapidly. issolved bysuchsolvent, acids being employed only to com.- plete the solution, andadded only. in quantity equivalent to the metal remaining in the oreafter the salinertreatment. The amount of acid. required is readilydetermined for each kind of ore by testing the undissolved residue fromthe saline treatment.

Iclaim:

1. The method of treating oxidized ores 'Which consists in subjectingthem to the successive action of a saline solvent and an acid solvent.

2. The method of treating oxidized ores which consists in subjectingthem to the successive action of a heated saline solvent and an acidsolvent.

3. The method of dissolving oxidized ores 105' which consists insubjecting them successively to the action of a sodium chlorid solutionand sulfuric acid.

' 4. The method of treating oxidized ores: which consists. in subjectingthem to the 110 which consists in subjecting them to thel action of asodium chlorid solution, then adding sulfuric acid and subjecting themto action of a saline solvent, then adding an by the: saline treat acidsolvent and subjecting them to the further action of the resultingsolvent solution. i 5. The method of dissolving oxidized ores remainingundissolved. ment.

7. The methodof treating oxidized ores l which consists in subjectinthem to the j action of a vsaline solvent, t en adding an acid solventin quantity proportionate to the amount of metal relnainin undissolved,and subjecting them to the urther action of the resulting solventsolution.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 25 in presence of twowitnesses WILBUR' ALSON HENDRYX. Witnesses THEODORA WELLs,

CHAS. R. DAVIES.

l I the further action of the resulting solvent solution. I

6. The method of treating oxidize'd ores Which-consists in subjectingthem succesi sively to the action of asaline solvent and an acidsolvent, the acid being added in quan- E tity proportionate to theamount of metal

